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Brief introduction of Katzarah Dam.

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Jun 4, 2018 #1

Brief introduction of Katzarah Dam.

How criminal one can get. Those who come to power are only interested in the seat
and making money. Really a shame on us.
fatman17
SR.
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There is a spectacular, multi-purpose and the narrowest dam site on the Indus at the
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head of the gorge at Katzarah located on the downstream of the confluence of three
rivers, namely the Indus River, Shiok River and Shigar River. The dam site is about
Joined: Apr 24, 2007
18 km downstream of Skardu and would create storage in three gorges. Engineer
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Fateh Ullah discovered the dam site in 1957 by looking at the GTS maps later on he
prepared a pre-feasibility report in April 1962. The population of Skardu was then
about 4000. On his initiation, the President of Pakistan FM Mohammed Ayub Khan
requested the World Bank to send its experts to identify dam sites in Pakistan and
other water resources projects. In 1968, Dr Pieter Lieftnick of the World Bank and his
team identified Katzarah dam site near Skardu among others and called it Skardu
dam. Confusion is being created by calling Katzarah as Skardu, the two different dam
sites namely Katzarah and Skardu are 22 km apart. Therefore both cannot be called
Skardu. The World Bank Team fixes the site for Skardu Dam on the upstream of
Skardu town. It is immediately located on the downstream of the confluence of Shigar
River with Indus River where a gauge site has since been established for the
purpose. At this location the height of Skardu Dam is fixed as 310 feet, length 3700
feet and storage capacity as 8 maf. For confirmation reference may be made to Dr
Pieter Lieftnick’s report — pages 283 and 296. General Musharraf repeatedly urges
for big dams and Katzarah is really the Biggest Dam.

Katzarah dam would create a reservoir up to 35 maf, the largest in the world and six
times larger than Kalabagh or Basha. It would be able to generate about 15,000 MW
of power and would totally regulate the highly erratic flow of the Indus essentially
required for irrigation system in the Indus basin. It would control floods by conserving
35 maf of floodwater that escapes to sea as wastage on the average each year.

Katzarah dam site has an excellent “Capacity-inflow ratio” (CI ratio) in the entire
reach of the Indus River valley, therefore its lifespan and service value can be about
1000 years as the highly erodable soil will be submerged and compressed by the 35
maf Katzara reservoir. It will also prevent downstream silt flow from the highly
erodible soil of Skardu valley. In planning storage dams and reservoirs, the CI ratio is
the most vital factor and the key for the selection of the best possible dam site on a
river. On this vital ratio the life and the service value of storage dam depends.
Besides this, silt flow at Katzarah dam site is nominal. In spite of all round merits, no
one took notice of this unique dam site since 1962.

For information, Hoover dam named after President Hoover of USA at Lake Meade
on Colorado River with a storage capacity of 28.5 maf creates is the largest reservoir
in the world at present. Whereas, Katzarah dam would create a reservoir of 35 maf
larger than created by Hoover dam.

Katzarah dam can irrigate a barren area of about 10 million acres on the Right Bank
of the Indus River in the four provinces. If sprinkler method of irrigation is used, it can
irrigate more than 20 million acres. A Right Bank Irrigation System would be created
in the country. This project would economically result in a revolutionary development
of land and water, bring pleasant change in climate and create healthy environment
and its own ecosystem. This is because the vast desert-like areas would turn into
green fields, orchards and forests. Moreover, the Indus basin irrigation system would
get assured water supply free of dispute for all times. Katzarah dam can serve as
replacement storage, development storage, inter-seasonal storage and carryover
storage.

Fortunately, though by chance, the most wonderful aspect of Katzarah dam would be
that the three inundation or flood canals namely Thal, Raine, and Kachi with a
combine discharge of about 19500 cusecs or 14 maf now under construction would
be made perennial. Presently, these flood canals would only run for 70 flood days and
remain dry for the rest of 10 months a year.

Moreover, Katzarah dam would make up the inherent deficiency of (117.35-105) =

12.35 maf of water allocated in advance in para 2 of the Water Accord. Storage to
 make up this deficiency has not been created since 1991. This very factor assumed
in advance of creating new storage has resulted in disputes on sharing the imaginary
storage of 12.35 maf of floodwater.

In 1962, a proposal was submitted to create a Right Bank Irrigation System to the
Federal Govt by Engineer Fateh Ullah Khan to build Katzarah dam, a barrage at
Chashma on the Indus with a Right Bank Canal named All Pakistan Grand Canal to
irrigate most of the barren right bank areas in the four provinces. Unfortunately,
nothing was done to build this unique dam with unlimited benefits though as
Chairman IRSA it was repeatedly requested by him to build it to implement the
central paras 2,4,6,12 and 14(e) of the Water Accord.

It would take about 7 to 8 years to complete Kalabagh or Basha. By then, Tarbela

and Mangla would have lost storage equal to the storage created by the new dam.
Therefore, shortage of water and provincial disputes will go on and the new dam at
Kalabagh or Basha would not be useful to help solve the water crisis. These dams
will only serve as replacement storage and are not meant for the development of new
areas.

Against unlimited, multi-purpose and all round advantages of Katzarah dam, the
insignificant disadvantages raised by the supporters of Kalabagh dam is that Skardu,
its airport and a few Km of road would be submerged. Wherever dams are built,
inundation of land is unavoidable. But in densely populated and developed areas in
case of Kalabagh Dam, which doesn’t even serve its purpose, the matter is far more
serious than the unpopulated, barren and remote area like the Skardu valley that will
be affected in case of Katzarah Dam. The planners, engineers and the economists
should weigh all the advantages and disadvantages of each dam keeping in view the
requirements of water, power, and food and of agricultural development of the future.

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Jun 4, 2018 #2

15,000MW dam project shelved by Wapda

From the NewspaperSeptember 22, 2011
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Bilal.
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In a letter to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Wapda said: “The option of
Skardu/Katzarah dam project for further planning has been dropped from Wapda’s
2025 Vision programme.” — File Photo

ISLAMABAD: While confirming that the Katzarah dam site, unanimously proposed by
inter-provincial and parliamentary commissions, has the capacity to store 27 million
acre feet of water, the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has
reiterated its opposition to the project which can produce more than 15,000MW of
electricity. In a letter to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Wapda said: “The option
of Skardu/Katzarah dam project for further planning has been dropped from Wapda’s
2025 Vision programme.”

ADVERTISEMENT
The prime minister had sought a report from the ministry of water and power after a
Dawn report last month pointed out that Wapda was backtracking from the
commitment it had made to the two commissions to complete the dam’s feasibility
study by 2006.

Wapda decided to shelve the project on the basis of over a dozen negative impacts
which it said made the multi-purpose dam site unfeasible in the present
circumstances.

Wapda said the project site had been identified in 1960 but did not receive much
attention because of access problem. At that time road to Skardu was single lane
and could not be used by anything except jeeps and pack animals and used to
remain closed for 6-7 months a year.

It said the pre-feasibility level studies for the project were carried out by Wapda
during 2007 under its Vision 2025 confirming a potential to impound the average
annual inflow of Indus at 27 MAF.

“However even an 8 MAF reservoir at this site will totally submerge the entire Skardu
and Shigar valleys including the important town of Skardu.”

Wapda said a fertile and productive land under agriculture with fruit orchards of
about 13,363.5 hectares falling in the reservoir area will come under water and any
alternate land to be provided to land owners/farmers of the displaced population was
not available. Also, the whole city of Skardu with its suburbs spread over about 25
square kilometres with a population of 130,000 and about 20,000 houses; 7,000
shops, hospitals, schools, graveyard, mosques, etc., will be submerged.

A total population of 223,847 falling in the reservoir area will be displaced. From
defence point of view, the strategic control of the Siachen and Kargil sectors and of
the Line of Control by Pakistan Army and PAF from Skardu will be lost because the
operational activities of the two institutions will be badly affected while on the other
hand, a huge infrastructure developed in Skardu and Gamba costing billions of
rupees will also be submerged.

Moreover, 12,000 feet runway, along with all civil engineering infrastructure
controlled by the Civil Aviation Authority will come under water while a cadet college
recently established with Rs300 million to impart quality education to students of
Northern Areas will be submerged.

Also, the Shangrila Motel considered as a beautiful cultural and recreational resort
will be submerged besides 40 kilometres of metalled road from Skardu to Shigar on
the left side of Shigar river. Access to the villages outside the reservoir periphery will
be disconnected while a possibility to provide an alternate access does not exist.

A new road will be constructed above the reservoir level from dam to Khaplu & to
Shigar valley. The water and power system consisting of several small hydropower
stations and transmission lines will come under water.

Besides, the Skardu/Katzarah dam will also have a negative effect on the Satpara
dam which is currently under construction, In Shigar area and Skardu, a number of
archaeological sites consisting of buildings, mosques, graveyards, forts etc. which
are more than a thousand years old, will come under water, which will be a serious
cultural hazard. The Balti population which has a rich culture developed through
centuries will lose its identity.

In a recent interview, former chairman of Indus River System Authority (IRSA) Eng
Fatehullah Khan Gundapur had termed the proposed dam the only way to resolve the
current water and power crisis in the country. A bipartisan parliamentary committee
led by former Senator Nisar Memon and a technical committee led by A.N.G Abbasi
 – both having experts and parliamentarians from all provinces – had unanimously
called for construction of the Katzarah dam as the top-most priority in 2005 to end
political controversies over mega dams.

https://www.dawn.com/news/660997

Jun 4, 2018 #3

Bilal. said: ↑

15,000MW dam project shelved by Wapda

From the NewspaperSeptember 22, 2011
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Joined: Apr 22, 2010 not an option you cant sink skardu..it will hurt our Kashmir cause

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there are multiple other options based upon old survey..we also need a new survey

Jun 4, 2018 #4

ziaulislam said: ↑

not an option you cant sink skardu..it will hurt our Kashmir cause

there are multiple other options based upon old survey..we also need a new survey

Bilal.
SENIOR MEMBER Yes, For now we need to prioritize and expedite Bhasha, Akhori, Munda and Kurram
Tangi.... these projects will add around 18 MAF of storage.

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Jun 4, 2018 #5

now it will be interesting if the size decreased further to 3-4 MAF and see what
 happens
but there are numerous sites all over pakistan, WAPDA just needs to do a detail
study
last study was in 1984 which was a very small study and we simply using that study

ziaulislam
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Jun 5, 2018 #6

Well relocation of few thousand people for the benefit of millions (including those few
thousand people) should not be an issue ...

Regarding skardu and airport there are plenty of other locations where airport can be
built like Katpana desert ... Probably bigger planes might not be able to fly but small
The Accountant
pessenger planes can easily fly and land in the area
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Jun 7, 2018 #7

most attractive thing about this dam is 15000 MV electricity. More than currently
produced electricity from all expensive sources like furnace oil & dirty sources like
coal/gas.

sur
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Jun 7, 2018 #8

sur said: ↑

most attractive thing about this dam is 15000 MV electricity. More than currently produced
electricity from all expensive sources like furnace oil & dirty sources like coal/gas.

The Accountant Brother, but this electricity is in Skardu, several 100 kilometers away from population
SENIOR MEMBER
and economic centers, surrounded by world biggest mountains, so bringing that
electricity to the national grid will be a huge challenge and to ensure continous supply
of such electricity duing extreme winter will also be an issue ...
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Joined: Aug 13, 2016

The positive side is no province other than Gilgit Baltistan can have a problem with
Ratings: +9 / 4,769 / -0 this DAM as there is almost no possibility of having canals or water diversions due to
the location of the Dam.

Jun 7, 2018 #9

Build it

Horus
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Jun 7, 2018 #10

We think their concerns as per reported are genuine, authorities should follow the
lead and complete those projects which are feasible to serve the nation.
 RadioactiveFriends
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Jun 8, 2018 #11

sur said: ↑

most attractive thing about this dam is 15000 MV electricity. More than currently produced
electricity from all expensive sources like furnace oil & dirty sources like coal/gas.

ziaulislam again Pakistani people need to understand a few things

ELITE MEMBER
its MW is more but billion units produced per year will not be substantially higher to
justify the displacement of such a large population
e.g
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bhahsa dam 4500mw capcity gives you almost same amount billion units as bunji
Joined: Apr 22, 2010
7100
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we shouldn't confuse peak production with total units produced

The Accountant said: ↑

Well relocation of few thousand people for the benefit of millions (including those few
thousand people) should not be an issue ...

Regarding skardu and airport there are plenty of other locations where airport can be built like
Katpana desert ... Probably bigger planes might not be able to fly but small pessenger planes
can easily fly and land in the area

they are not any places, that is the point

a better option would be to first complete the 60,000 hydro potential of indus belt and
than consider building it after doing another study to find out more spots, all the
current spots are based upon 1984 superficial survey!
Jun 8, 2018 #12

ziaulislam said: ↑

again Pakistani people need to understand a few things

its MW is more but billion units produced per year will not be substantially higher to justify the
displacement of such a large population
e.g
The Accountant
bhahsa dam 4500mw capcity gives you almost same amount billion units as bunji 7100
SENIOR MEMBER

we shouldn't confuse peak production with total units produced

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Joined: Aug 13, 2016 Agreed that other dams are priority but i disagree that airport is not possible at any

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other place at skardu ... I have seen the place and there are some places for airport

Jun 8, 2018 #13

The Accountant said: ↑

Agreed that other dams are priority but i disagree that airport is not possible at any other
place at skardu ... I have seen the place and there are some places for airport

ziaulislam katzara dam will sink all the valley its 5x times the size of tarbela, it literally will
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swallow up all GB populated area
and i mean all of it

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Joined: Apr 22, 2010

Ratings: +10 / 7,808 / -2

Jun 8, 2018 #14

ziaulislam said: ↑

katzara dam will sink all the valley its 5x times the size of tarbela, it literally will swallow up all
GB populated area
and i mean all of it
 The Accountant Gilgit baltistan main population center is at gilgit hunza belt ... Skardu is way away
SENIOR MEMBER and except town of skardu there are very small villages with almost no population ...
Do you have any mao supporting your claim ? The author claims that the priposed
dam is 22 kms from skardu it means it will submerge mainly the shangrilla resort road
Messages: 4,895 thats why they have specifically mebtioned the key buildings adjacent to the road ...
Joined: Aug 13, 2016 I.e. Airport, cadet college etc ...
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Have you even visited the area and have understanding of its geography ?

Jun 8, 2018 #15

The Accountant said: ↑

Gilgit baltistan main population center is at gilgit hunza belt ... Skardu is way away and except
town of skardu there are very small villages with almost no population ... Do you have any
mao supporting your claim ? The author claims that the priposed dam is 22 kms from skardu
it means it will submerge mainly the shangrilla resort road thats why they have specifically
ziaulislam
mebtioned the key buildings adjacent to the road ... I.e. Airport, cadet college etc ...
ELITE MEMBER

Have you even visited the area and have understanding of its geography ?
Click to expand
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i main skardu town will be submerged
Joined: Apr 22, 2010
this is from old wapda document
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so you know why skardu will be submerged

look at person displaced

i have laready discussed this in detail, will try to find the thread and link it

again, why are we even discussing this..

katzara should be way down the list after we build dams worth 40-50 MAF water
storage than we should talk about it

it can however be built if the capacity is dropped to 4MAF from max 23 MAF
 as major towns will not be submerged ar 3-4 MAF
but again we have many options, also i dont like storing such a massive amount of
water in one place, dams this massive have known to cause problems, including
shifting unstable plates especially in such an active zone

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